stereo with android auto and maps?

[Dannco75]

hi,

we are just waiting on delivery of our 2004 pilote atlantis a5.
it has a single din stereo and an old reversing camera in the cab.

we are looking to modernise the camera quite soon after getting the mh.

we dont currently have a sat nav and i was wondering whether it would be better to get a new double din stereo with android auto/maps etc (current stereo needs updating anyway)
or
something like the garmin avtex tourer one ?

we are completely new to this. can any mobile app that allows custom vehicle dimensions be used via android auto?

thanks

 

[Guigsy]

Most Android satnav apps don't have a vehicle size feature. In my experience, the ones that do don't provide enough benefit over just using Google Maps. Because for almost every journey, size doesn't make a difference. When it does, the 'aware' apps often get it wrong and they'll still guide you down narrow lanes. But pretty much every journey, Google Maps will give better routing, guidance and traffic info.

 

[Dannco75]

Most Android satnav apps don't have a vehicle size feature. In my experience, the ones that do don't provide enough benefit over just using Google Maps. Because for almost every journey, size doesn't make a difference. When it does, the 'aware' apps often get it wrong and they'll still guide you down narrow lanes. But pretty much every journey, Google Maps will give better routing, guidance and traffic info.

So Google maps on phone connected to stereo Android auto would be a good enough option?

 

[Southdownswolf]

Not sure on your dash layout, but you can get single din stereo with "floating" screens, rather than needing a double din.

 

[Dannco75]

Not sure on your dash layout, but you can get single din stereo with "floating" screens, rather than needing a double din.

I'm yet to have a proper measure up and hard to visualise without the cab in front of me.
It's a 2004 boxer based mh.

I've read that a mh specific sat nav is absolutely essential but I've also read that Google maps is fine

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[Southdownswolf]

My mh is a van conversion, so fairly narrow, so I'm not necessarily the best to comment on whether a specific app or device would be better for you.
I was commenting more on the fact that you mentioned getting a double din unit rather than single din. As a single din unit is currently installed, a double din may be difficult to fit, but I'm not 100% certain on your mh.

 

[Dannco75]

My mh is a van conversion, so fairly narrow, so I'm not necessarily the best to comment on whether a specific app or device would be better for you.
I was commenting more on the fact that you mentioned getting a double din unit rather than single din. As a single din unit is currently installed, a double din may be difficult to fit, but I'm not 100% certain on your mh.

Ah yes I'm with you.
Definitely something to consider.
I wasn't aware of the single din with seperate screens so will look into those. Head unit needs updating regardless.

 

[Guigsy]

Width and weight restrictions are easy for map creators to identify and there aren't that many of them (although I've found several mistakes in several apps). But these types of restrictions are also easy to avoid.

The far larger issue is narrow lanes. They cause far more navigation issues and far more stress. But the majority of these narrow lanes are legally navigable by wide vehicles, so there's no signage. They're just a pain in the arse. But there's no easy way to quantify how much of a pain they are. A low traffic single track across moorland with lots of marked passing spots might be very narrow. But it's far less hassle than a wider road that's all high hedges, blind bends that's a heavy commuter route. And what might be quite easy for a PVC might be a much more difficult for a wider coachbuild.

Now consider that there are actually only a few mapping companies such as Google, Apple, Navteq, etc. The app companies buy their map bases from these same few mapping companies. The vast majority of the mapping company customers aren't drivers of wide vehicles. So they don't collect data such as how nadgery a lane is for a motorhome.

So there's no good data about narrow lanes. And it's not easy to quantify anyway. And in my experience, satnavs that claim to be width aware aren't very good at avoiding narrow lanes.

 

[Guigsy]

So Google maps on phone connected to stereo Android auto would be a good enough option?

I've got a Sony 9" Android Auto head unit. It sits proud of the dash, and uses a single DIN slot. And I use Google Maps for my 2.3m wide van.

I have a tablet with Sygic Truck as a backup. But having used them at the same time, I've found it was better to follow Google's opinion pretty much every time. So most of the time, the tablet stays stashed in the arm rest. I've also tried TomTom and Road Lords (and I think CoPilot?) and I found them to be pretty much the same. In that they claimed to be width aware, but I found errors, and the general navigation was worse.

 

[Richard n Ann]

You can get android auto/car play screens for about £50 that sit on the dash or maybe windscreen?
I just put my phone in a vent holder and use that.

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[Dannco75]

I've got a Sony 9" Android Auto head unit. It sits proud of the dash, and uses a single DIN slot. And I use Google Maps for my 2.3m wide van.

I have a tablet with Sygic Truck as a backup. But having used them at the same time, I've found it was better to follow Google's opinion pretty much every time. So most of the time, the tablet stays stashed in the arm rest. I've also tried TomTom and Road Lords (and I think CoPilot?) and I found them to be pretty much the same. In that they claimed to be width aware, but I found errors, and the general navigation was worse.

Thanks for such a detailed response. Much appreciated.
I'm leaning more towards a half decent dab head unit with android auto I think.
I don't think we'll be on any crazy adventures where we'll need anything more than Google maps

 

[Richard n Ann]

Thanks for such a detailed response. Much appreciated.
I'm leaning more towards a half decent dab head unit with android auto I think.
I don't think we'll be on any crazy adventures where we'll need anything more than Google maps

Internet radio is better than DAB. I use a little FM /Bluetooth transmitter so I can get any radio station in the world playing through the van speakers, the navigation announcements come through too and any phone calls as there's a microphone somewhere. Best of all they're only about 10 quid

 

[BigVtwin]

Most Android satnav apps don't have a vehicle size feature. In my experience, the ones that do don't provide enough benefit over just using Google Maps. Because for almost every journey, size doesn't make a difference. When it does, the 'aware' apps often get it wrong and they'll still guide you down narrow lanes. But pretty much every journey, Google Maps will give better routing, guidance and traffic info.

Beg to differ. Used Copilot now for 3 years and we have been really happy with the app.

We use it on a standalone 10" Tablet, able to provide dimensions and weight. As long as it has a wifi signal (or hotspot from your phone) it gives a very accurate (imho) traffic update and advises of alternative routes. You can use address, postcode, Lat/Long and POI to search destination

 

[Guigsy]

Beg to differ. Used Copilot now for 3 years and we have been really happy with the app.

We use it on a standalone 10" Tablet, able to provide dimensions and weight, as long as it has a wifi signal (or hotspot from your phone), it gives a traffic update and advises of alternative routes. You can you address, postcode, Lat/Long and POI to search destination

Having run them side-by-side, traffic info and alternative routes are far better on Google Maps than Copilot. Google is reliable enough that of it says there's a queue ahead on the motorway, you can judge when to start slowing down.

Mostly because Google have far, far more users to collect more traffic info. They've got models of predicted congestion, so they can better guess which is the best approach to somewhere based on the expected congestion at the time you'll arrive. And they own their own mapping, so when several users go off-track, they know they need to correct the mapping.

And if you use Google Maps, you rarely need to type an address or latlong because it's linked to search. Why do I even need a POI database if it's already on search? Especially if I researched in on my tablet or PC, so it'll be top of the list when I search on the phone.

In my experience, the width aware feature is mainly a placebo. You think it's helping, but it's not really doing anything. And the cost is a worse nav experience in many tangible ways.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Not used POI's for years

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[BigVtwin]

Having run them side-by-side, traffic info and alternative routes are far better on Google Maps than Copilot. Google is reliable enough that of it says there's a queue ahead on the motorway, you can judge when to start slowing down.

Mostly because Google have far, far more users to collect more traffic info. They've got models of predicted congestion, so they can better guess which is the best approach to somewhere based on the expected congestion at the time you'll arrive. And they own their own mapping, so when several users go off-track, they know they need to correct the mapping.

And if you use Google Maps, you rarely need to type an address or latlong because it's linked to search. Why do I even need a POI database if it's already on search? Especially if I researched in on my tablet or PC, so it'll be top of the list when I search on the phone.

In my experience, the width aware feature is mainly a placebo. You think it's helping, but it's not really doing anything. And the cost is a worse nav experience in many tangible ways.

I drive 500 miles a week and use Waze constantly which is crowd input data driven, now if they did dimensions i reckon this would be the best by a big margin.

That being said, and to your point about the mapping of Copliot not being as good due to user input, i am so used to using waze that i HAVE to have it operating alongside Waze, not for actual route but for its notifications; which is a lot better than Google maps. Below is a very comprehensive review

https://www.tomsguide.com/face-off/google-maps-vs-waze

While Google Maps and Waze both let you report those hazards as you come across them, they don’t always match up, especially if you’re using Google Maps. For instance the stretch of freeway that takes me into London is almost completely covered in speed cameras. There has to be at least one camera every mile enforcing a strict 50mph speed limit. Waze has little graphics for most of those cameras, and flashes up an on-screen warning every time I drive past one.

Meanwhile Google Maps does a pretty terrible job of both. Google Maps lets you report speed cameras, and other serious road hazards, but on the 45 mile trip from my house to London it showed a grand total of two cameras. Waze doesn’t seem to have them all, but it has a heck of a lot more than Google Maps. You’d think Google’s data collection machine would be more accurate than Waze’s crowdsourced approach.

Granted Google Maps isn’t far behind, but Waze does have the edge on account of the fact its user base isn’t quite as passive.

Winner: Waze

We average about 10k miles a year in the van both UK and Europe, where 95% of the time i am using copilot and waze together, and i have found over years of using this setup that Copilot is very good at giving a realistic ETA and road selection - with Waze being about 1hour+ earlier than Copilot in its ETA of a 9 hour drive (as we did Santander to Benidorm a few weeks ago) .... as it wants to take you through Farmers fields and peoples gardens However when you continually ignore the turn off's that Waze suggests it settles down and is very very close

It really is a personal choice, and we even know some people that just use good ol' fashioned maps and they get along fine!!!

 

[Guigsy]

I drive 500 miles a week and use Waze constantly which is crowd input data driven, now if they did dimensions i reckon this would be the best by a big margin.

That being said, and to your point about the mapping of Copliot not being as good due to user input, i am so used to using waze that i HAVE to have it operating alongside Waze, not for actual route but for its notifications; which is a lot better than Google maps. Below is a very comprehensive review

https://www.tomsguide.com/face-off/google-maps-vs-waze

While Google Maps and Waze both let you report those hazards as you come across them, they don’t always match up, especially if you’re using Google Maps. For instance the stretch of freeway that takes me into London is almost completely covered in speed cameras. There has to be at least one camera every mile enforcing a strict 50mph speed limit. Waze has little graphics for most of those cameras, and flashes up an on-screen warning every time I drive past one.

Meanwhile Google Maps does a pretty terrible job of both. Google Maps lets you report speed cameras, and other serious road hazards, but on the 45 mile trip from my house to London it showed a grand total of two cameras. Waze doesn’t seem to have them all, but it has a heck of a lot more than Google Maps. You’d think Google’s data collection machine would be more accurate than Waze’s crowdsourced approach.

Granted Google Maps isn’t far behind, but Waze does have the edge on account of the fact its user base isn’t quite as passive.

Winner: Waze

We average about 10k miles a year in the van both UK and Europe, where 95% of the time i am using copilot and waze together, and i have found over years of using this setup that Copilot is very good at giving a realistic ETA and road selection - with Waze being about 1hour+ earlier than Copilot in its ETA of a 9 hour drive (as we did Santander to Benidorm a few weeks ago) .... as it wants to take you through Farmers fields and peoples gardens However when you continually ignore the turn off's that Waze suggests it settles down and is very very close

It really is a personal choice, and we even know some people that just use good ol' fashioned maps and they get along fine!!!

Waze and Google Maps are almost the same thing. Same maps. Same traffic data. User reports on Waze appear on Maps. Tracking of users to get actual current journey times and spot congestion goes into the same database. The routing algorithm is a bit different, Waze leans more on finding every second whereas Maps favours major roads and less turns. But the difference is mainly cosmetic.

 

[Dannco75]

Are the generic android head units any good for the price?

 

[jumar]

Are the generic android head units any good for the price?

Mine is, with the split screen showing media on one side and GPS on other,,,its basically mirroring my phone...a constant data connection is provided by my router....it works for me.

 

[Diamondgeezer]

Internet radio is better than DAB. I use a little FM /Bluetooth transmitter so I can get any radio station in the world playing through the van speakers, the navigation announcements come through too and any phone calls as there's a microphone somewhere. Best of all they're only about 10 quid

Hi, would you have a link for the one you have

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[Patiopat]

Beg to differ. Used Copilot now for 3 years and we have been really happy with the app.

We use it on a standalone 10" Tablet, able to provide dimensions and weight. As long as it has a wifi signal (or hotspot from your phone) it gives a very accurate (imho) traffic update and advises of alternative routes. You can use address, postcode, Lat/Long and POI to search destination

I use copilot too it’s a nice app apart from the speed for your weight it only gives you the generic speed for that road. I’ve contacted them about this several times but get nowhere.

 

[Captain Pizza]

Waze and Google Maps are almost the same thing. Same maps. Same traffic data. User reports on Waze appear on Maps. Tracking of users to get actual current journey times and spot congestion goes into the same database. The routing algorithm is a bit different, Waze leans more on finding every second whereas Maps favours major roads and less turns. But the difference is mainly cosmetic.

Agreed. And the final point you make about the Google Maps algorithm is what makes it better for motorhome navigation.

I use Google Maps via Android Auto and have never had a problem. I am quite risk averse though, and will usually 'walk through' any final narrow roads to a site/car park using Google street view beforehand, so I know how many passing places there are etc. Street View is also excellent for checking the accessibility/practicality of car parks in remote places and whether there are height barriers on entry. And for looking at parking restriction signs and road widths in urban areas.

Finally I will always look to use roads that have local bus services running along them (which you called also see on Google maps), my logic being that if the bus always gets through, so will I, eventually. Although I did exactly this when driving out to Strumble Head in Pembrokeshire and met the once-every-2-hours bus coming the other way at a very tight corner, which required quite some shuffling around!!

 

[Spicemelange]

We have a Atoto s8 fitted to our 2011 fiat Ducati based coach built. We really like it as can connect phones and to the van WiFi so has all the apps you could possibly need. So far has been really reliable and it has been used for 3 years.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Hi, would you have a link for the one you have

Here it is, you don't have to use the dash socket, mine is plugged in in a cupboard in the back. That way you can use it when parked up, and any FM radio round it can be tuned in

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/36513643...pid=5339023013&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1

 

[jezport]

Never rely on any satnav as far as vehicle size as they can be wrong. Only as good as the data they have, Always check your route first and if a road the nav tells you to looks unsuitable don't go down it.
They can also send you a very long route if they think a road is unsuitable. Ive seen it many times on routes I know locally

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[jezport]

I use tomtom go via my android auto screen but have a stand alone tomtom camper satnav that I now dont use

 

[MovingRock76]

Hi, would you have a link for the one you have

We've done same with phone connected to bluetooth adaptor that transmits FM so you can tune in your radio
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07VFT4D6B?tag=mhf04-21
Does the job

 

[berni109]

If you don't want to spend a lot of money a Chinese android head unit is the way to go. Get a big 10" screen and one that supports android auto. Amazon is good but not cheapest and returns are easy.
Find one with newest version of android and plenty of processing power.
Load up all the free/ cheap nav apps and see which suits you best.

 

[SMB]

I use both Copilot and Google maps along with the free Tomtom amigo app on overlay mode for enforcement cameras. The poi's on Copilot are sadly lacking unlike Google maps and it's not perfect for navigation or speed limits but it is accurate for ETA when you set the 'govenor' speed for your vehicle.

 

[KiltedCamper]

The Atoto range is quite good. They do single DIN and double DIN units and also have amazingly good and swift customer support.

If you want a "quick & dirty" solution to reversing camera installation, you can get a quite decent one that uses its own wifi connection. Camera sits on the back of the van, kept alive by solar power. No wiring. I fitted one as a temporary measure until I could face running wires from back to front of van, and I haven't yet built up the enthusiasm to replace it.

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